JOSEPH FIENNES plays Clavius, a fictional Roman military tribune stationed in the wasteland of 33 A.D. Judaea. He finds himself at the cross during the crucifixion of the Nazarene. Cliff Curtis plays Jesus, called Yeshua here, the Hebrew name used throughout "Risen."

Pilate's (Peter Firth) right-hand man, Clavius, has just returned from battle with Judean zealots led by Barabbas. Before he can wash the blood from his face, he's ordered to the crucifixion site of Yeshua and two others already underway. Pilate wants to end the Nazarene's suffering quickly to disperse the crowd, but, when Clavius arrives, Yeshua has already said his final words: "It is finished."

Co-writer/director Kevin Reynolds ("Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves") helms the film. Told through the eyes of a non-believer, it avoids a gospel-centric storyline, Rich Peluso, Senior Vice President of Sony's Affirm Films says in the "Script to Screen" featurette.

Traditional Biblical films made during the '50s and '60s – "Ben Hur" and "King of Kings" – focused on the life of Jesus, ending at the crucifixion. "Risen" covers the launching point, turning the Resurrection into a detective story. "When the military leaders and religious leaders woke up that Sunday morning and the body of Jesus was missing, it was a mystery to them," Peluso says. Pilate unleashes a manhunt to find the body. “Without a corpse to prove him dead, we have a potential Messiah," he says.

The story’s turning point arrives in the third act at the Sea of Galilee, where the emotional impact and spiritual authority of Yeshua and his disciples is revealed.

THE History Channel's docudrama "The Bible" came as a shock to Hollywood insiders for ratings – over 100 million viewers – who watched the 10-hour series.

As a whole, TV critics were not kind, throwing plenty of stones at the $22 million production, calling it poorly acted and too violent. But executive producers Mark Burnett ("Survivor," "The Voice"), his wife Roma Downey ("Touched by an Angel") and massive CGI effects generated a punch Cecil B. DeMille could have only dreamed of for his 1956 epic, "The Ten Commandments." That classic is what inspired them to take on a TV miniseries, even though it was such a daunting enterprise. How do you split 66 books – Old Testament and New Testament – into 10 hours? "It could have easily been 100 hours," Burnett says. The couple assembled a team of Biblical scholars and writers, carefully choosing stories, big and small.

The series is divided into 10 episodes:

(Old Testament) "In the Beginning" – quickly moves from the Garden of Eden to the Great Flood, then to Abraham chosen by God to lead his people to the Promised Land. "Exodus" – Commanded by God to free the Israelites from Egypt, Moses then next receives the 10 Commandments at Mount Sinai. "Homeland" – The 12 tribes of Israel begin a new life, but face numerous invaders; Samson is gifted by God to fight the Philistines. The prophet Samuel makes Saul the first king of Israel. "Kingdom" – King Saul and his army, including young hero David, defeat Goliath and the Philistines. David becomes king and captures Jerusalem, providing a new home for the Ark of the Covenant. "Survival" – 400 years later, the Jews are enslaved in Babylon, while Daniel is thrown into the lions' den. The Israelites return to Jerusalem.

(New Testament) "Hope" – The angel Gabriel tells Mary, pledged to marry Joseph, that she will bear the Son of God, a child to be named Jesus. Decades later, John baptizes Jesus and, with the power of the spirit, he heads into the desert to face Satan. The mission of grace begins, and Jesus picks his disciples. "Mission" – Jesus of Nazareth and his disciples travel from town to town, preaching love and forgiveness, while showing the power of God through miracles including raising Lazarus from death. "Betrayal" – Triumphantly, Jesus arrives at Jerusalem as prophesied centuries earlier. At the Last Supper, he tells his disciples one will betray him, and is arrested. "Passion" – Peter denies the Lord and the crowd demands Jesus be crucified. Nailed to the cross he has been forced to carry to Golgotha, Jesus dies uttering: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” "Courage" – Sunday morning, Jesus rises from the grave. Before ascending to heaven, he instructs his disciples to tell his story, and the first-century church is born, with the promise of the Holy Spirit.

The unfamiliar international cast is mostly British. Filmed in the barren regions of North Africa, hundreds of Moroccans are extras. Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado, then 33, is a believable, compassionate Jesus. The overall acting is solid, while violence peaks at levels matching "The Lord of the Rings," with plenty of sword action. Still, Jesus' torture is ruthless (though nothing like Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ") and the crucifixion is bloody.

MEL GIBSON’S in-your-face depiction of the final 12 hours of the life of Jesus Christ is powerful and graphic. The Blu-ray set includes his theatrical release and a "Recut" version, edited to lose six minutes of violence. Both are difficult to watch, featuring scenes of brutal flagellation and the crucifixion. No detail is excluded; the Blu-ray picture is razor-sharp; the soundtrack is a showcase for John Debney's haunting score.

Four commentaries are available on the theatrical cut: The first with Gibson, Oscar-nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel, and the editor, in which they discuss technical aspects; a second features producer Stephen McEveety, second unit director Ted Rae and visual effects producer Kevin Vanderhan; the third has composer Debney, and a fourth features theologians. A pop-up track, with Biblical and production notes, show how actor Jim Caviezel, who plays Jesus, suffered bouts of hypothermia, a lung infection, shoulder dislocation, cuts and bruises, and was even being struck by lightning while hanging on the cross.

"SON OF GOD"

Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital copy; 2014; PG-13 for intense and bloody depiction of The Crucifixion and for some sequences of violence; streaming via Amazon Video, iTunes, Vudu

AGE, GENDER, RACE, economic status and other things divide people across the world, but common faith can bring all of those people together.

Producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey teamed again to unite Christians across the world with "Son of God." Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado again stars as Jesus; Downey plays his mother, Mary.

The Blu-ray release is loaded with good bonus features that also serve as evangelical tools. The cast, crew and Christian leaders of various denominations and cultures offer their insights about Jesus of Nazareth, and the hope that he offers today. "When you look at the message of Jesus, the message is that your past can be forgiven, you can have a purpose for living, and you can have a home in heaven," Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in California says.

"Son of God: Reborn" covers the set in Morocco, where cast and crew spent more than four months working on the project that spanned more than four years. "What makes this project unique is it's this balance of commitment to accuracy, [and] trying to draw out of the drama that's in the story,” Theological and Creative Consultant Bob Beltz says.

WARNER BROTHERS spent over $1 million for the restoration of “Ben-Hur” starring Charlton Heston.

Using the original 65mm camera negative (275-percent larger than normal 35mm film stock) and scanning each frame four-times the quality of Blu-ray, detail leaps off the screen. The process took longer than expected. "Our primary goal was to deliver the finest presentation possible and we have succeeded," says studio executive Jeff Baker, vice president and general manager of catalog films.

Heston stars as the fictional Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince sentenced to slavery by his childhood friend Messala, a Roman commander played by Irish actor Stephen Boyd. Years later, Ben-Hur seeks vengeance until a fateful encounter with Jesus of Nazareth.

In the late 1950s, Hollywood was desperate for a blockbuster. MGM pinned its hopes on "Ben-Hur" with 50,000 extras, 300 sets, and a budget spinning out of control. Legendary director William Wyler ("Wuthering Heights," 1939; "The Best Years of Our Lives," 1946) pressed on, delivering a sword-and-sandal epic with the greatest action sequence then ever filmed – the chariot race. It saved the nearly bankrupt studio. "Ben-Hur" won 11 Oscars, a record shared with "Titanic" (1997). In his commentary, Heston calls the three-week chariot training a "formidable task."

That's some of the criticism producer Samuel Bronston and director Nicholas Ray ("Rebel Without a Cause") faced nearly 60-years ago for their re-make of Cecil B. DeMille's 1927 life of Christ in "King of Kings."

Jeffrey Hunter ("The Searchers") was selected out of hundreds for the role of the Messiah. At 35, he seemed perfect since Jesus began his ministry at age 30. It's still considered Hunter's most famous role.

Most of the gorgeous production was filmed in Spain, subbing nicely for the Holy Land. Bronston and Ray built nearly 400 sets, hired over 20,000 extras and recruited an all-star international cast that included Siobhan McKenna (Mary, mother of Jesus) from Ireland, Carmen Sevilla (Mary Magdalene) and José Antonio (Young John) from Spain, Ron Randell (Lucius) from Australia, and Viveca Lindfors (Claudia) from Sweden, with Robert Ryan (John the Baptist), Hurd Hatfield (Pontius Pilate) and Edric Connor (Balthazar) from the U.S.

The storyline is a CliffsNotes version of the Gospels moving rapidly from the Nativity to the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Regrettably, a fictional subplot involving Jewish patriots was conjured up by screenwriter Philip Yordan. The upraising coincides with Jesus’ peaceful entry into Jerusalem as Barabbas leads a revolt against the Romans in which hundreds are killed.

But the Sermon on the Mount scene is worth the price of the Blu-ray. Filmed with thousands along a hillside in Spain, Hunter is convincing proclaiming "The Beatitudes" and "The Lord's Prayer." Orson Welles provides a steady narration throughout, bridging the story from one key sequence to the next.

Warner Brothers has produced a striking HD picture from the 70mm Super Technirama negative. It might not be the greatest Biblical epic, but has its moments.

AND for Passover …

"THE TEN COMMANDMENTS"

Blu-ray, DVD; 1956; G; streaming via Amazon Video, iTunes, Vudu

FOR DECADES Cecil B. DeMille’s Biblical epic has appeared during Passover and Easter. This year is no exception.

Ratings have been known to skyrocket when Charlton Heston’s Moses confronts Yul Brynner’s Ramses II. The plagues and parting of the Red Sea in the second half pick up even more viewers, says film historian Katherine Orrison, who wrote a biography of DeMille.

Available now on Blu-ray and streaming, “The Ten Commandments" and all of its pageantry can be viewed at home without those annoying commercial breaks. The all-star cast also includes Edward G. Robinson (Dathan), John Derek (Joshua), Anne Baxter (Nefertiti), Yvonne De Carlo (Sephora) and Debra Paget (Lilia). After seeing the resemblance between Heston and Michelangelo’s statue of Moses, "DeMille couldn't get me out of his mind" Heston says in the "Making Miracles" documentary.

Some of the most powerful sequences were filmed on location, including Mount Sinai, where Moses led the Israelites out of bondage. While filming on top of the mountain, Heston convinced DeMille that he could use his own voice for God during the "Burning Bush" scene. Later, effects disguised Heston's voice. There’s more interesting trivia to be found among the extras.

Paramount held nothing back for this restoration, scanning the large format Vistavision camera negative – a process the studio developed and patented – at the highest resolution three-times the resolution of Blu-rays. They also removed every blemish, while realigning the three-strip Technicolor negatives for vividly rich color. The nearly four-hour movie is spread across two discs, with change-over at the original intermission.